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About Me

Here
I would love to share with you our travels and adventures as international
consultants. About living in Italy, the Veneto area near Venice; in Indonesia,
central Java. Why we love the southeast of the United States and moved back from
Italy. Our love for gardening, the botanical way. Sharing with you our manifold
treasures from exotic places and even offering several in my Mariette's Back to
Basics LLC Boutique, for others to enjoy. As well as high end silver items from
Giovanni Raspini, Italy |
google.com/+MariettesBacktoBasics

I
also do classes and consulting... too much to list here! Check out my google.com/+MarietteVandenMunckhofVedderABOUT page, where you see my other LINKS and email address; you just scroll down.Thanks!

Love to
bring back some romance and quality to the daily life of others...

Diabetes-proof for life Reduce your risk with simple lifestyle changes.

The National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse (NDIC) estimates that 79 million American adults have pre-diabetes, defined by above-normal blood sugar levels. That's 35 percent of adults 20 and older, and half of adults 65 and older.

Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the US and a major cause of heart disease, stroke, kidney failure and blindness, so a diagnosis of pre-diabetes is serious.

Mayoclinic - Living with diabetes Kidney disease: No early symptoms. Just click this link to learn that unfortunately early kidney disease has no symptoms. Guess that's why I do have Chronic Kidney Disease stage II...
Being diagnosed with Diabetes Type 2, can be quite shocking, as I know from personal experience in 2007, but we can continue to live healthy!
Will share more posts on the subject as there are so many people facing this health issue.

Related links:

The Pre-Diabetes Diet Everyone Needs | Barbara Borcik (quoted in above Costco article): Pull back on portions. You still can eat many of the foods you like, just have smaller amounts of them. Borcik says, adding that this is especially true for starchy foods like white rice, white potatoes, and pasta.

Eating white rice daily ups diabetes risk, study shows | Study author Dr. Qi Sun, a diabetes researcher at Harvard School of Public Health, told WebMD that eating white rice could cause a sudden spike in blood sugar. White rice also doesn't contain as many nutrients as brown rice, which is packed in fiber, magnesium and vitamins. The researchers said not getting enough of these nutrients could contribute to type 2 diabetes risk.Diabetes in Japan: a review of disease burden and approaches to treatment| In recent years there has been rapid growth in diabetes in Japan which now is one of the nations most affected by the worldwide diabetes epidemic.

It is surprising you have type 2 diabetes with you being so slim. Or... have you lost weight since you found out you have the disease. My mother had type one diabetes, so I am very thankful that my brother of sister and myself don't have it.Hugs Kay

Dearest Kay,That's the tricky part of it; there are often no warning signs. Who would have thought as I have never, ever been over weight. No I have not lost weight since I found out in November of 2007. We all should keep an eye on our sugar intake as it is the 7th leading cause of death in the USA. Guess it did cause my to have kidney disease...Hugs,Mariette

Thank you, thank you for this post!! Since Carl was diagnosed on August 20th our lives have done a complete reversal! I am thrilled to report that his tests are falling in normal range, our food plan will NEVER go back to what it was, since early this year he has lost almost 30 pounds! We had a little scare last Sunday when his glucose level plunged to something quite dangerous. Pumped him full of OJ and a few glucose tabs and within 10-15 minutes he had bounced back. His physician reduced one his meds by one half and we've had no more problems. I appreciate you more than you could know, Mariette.

Dearest Helen,You are most welcome and if there are 79 million American adults with pre-diabetes, it is a very important subject for ALL of us!Glad that Carl's test are showing he's in normal range again! It is tough for switching lifestyle but the complete reversal is worth it and at our home we also stick with it! As for my weight, I've never in my entire life gained any weight, that's why it was such a surprise to my doctor and to me! Glad that the Orange Juice worked in combination with some glucose tabs; it can be very scary! Also a good thing that his physician did reduce his meds; always best to limit the intake of those chemicals.Hope this insight and the very good read from Costco magazine is helpful to you and to others that might not yet know they're in that pre-diabetes stage.More info will be coming out... Sending you hugs and once again, I'm so happy for you!Mariette

Dearest Jeanette Ann,You are so right about that but yet, so many continue with their addictions to extremely sweet and/or extremely salty. Two very bad habits that will wreak havoc with our health, sooner or later. But there is money made by selling it to the consumers and the information on the packaging can be oh so misleading!Hummus is full of fiber and so good for us. Good for you!Hugs,Mariette

Dear Mariette,i'm sorry you have kidney disease,my mother had type 2 diabetes.Tahini is very healthy ,i like eating it or put it in my Greek coffee.Thank you for sharing those important informatiions.Wishing you a wonderful weekend!Hugs!Dimi...

Dearest Dimi,Well, I do hope that my kidney disease will not worsen over time, like it did for my Mom.Sorry to hear about your dear Mother that she had type 2 diabetes. Guess nowadays, with more research being done, we better understand what caused it and we can change our lifestyle in time. So sorry you lost your dear Mother...Tahini is something that I even use in my chocolate making. Like you see here: {Vintage Silver Tea Strainer with Cherubs}Together with the dried nuts, seeds and fruits it is a very healthy snack.It sure is important information and I love to share this with others who might still be in the pre-diabetes stage and can turn it around in time.Sending you hugs and blessings for a lovely new week.Mariette

Dearest Angélica,So sorry to hear that your Mom too had diabetes. The best would be if people can prevent it all together by adjusting their diets... It is indeed a very silent disease but nowadays we do know more about it, what causes it and how to avoid it.Sending you hugs for a happy new week.Mariette

Kidney disease is terrible, I know how nervous I was when they found lumps on my mums kidneys turn out to be nothing to worry about but it a scare. I have a pen pal who has kidney disease and has to have dialysis

Hello Dearet Mariette; I am SO HAPPY to know you stay in a safe level, dear friend. And I knew you really are careful what you take so that no progress. This post 'Another Factor' for your health, isn't it♪ And surprised to read the ratio in America. We often use sesame seeds for cooking. I remember my late father liked to spray grind 'mixed thing with salt and sesame seed' on rice to add flavor. Haha, may be too much salt.Thank you SO much for your page from 2010♡♡♡ Hibiscus mutabilis 'Plena' also called: Confederate Rose and for us '酔芙蓉', I found it interesting for the use of the word 'confederate'; another different view form the different world♬♬♬ I knew the flower but had no idea about the type changing color during the day p;) Also surprised that you have that particular flower; two big coincidences with the silver grass :-)

I DO wish you'll keep being conscious for your health condition and happy rest of the week.Sending Lots of Love and Hugs from Japan to my Dear friend in America, xoxo Miyako*

Dearest Miyako,Thank you and rest assured that I will eat very conscious as it also will help my husband Pieter! The entire population should wean off from the extreme sweet and extreme salt total consumption per day. Those two things are often hidden in most food, especially fast food, and drinks without the users realizing it. Confederate Rose is of course the strict US name, but for the same botanical name Hibiscus mutabilis plena, versus the single bloom variety that you showed us. Those are amazing flowers; so much beauty for a very short life...The Pampas grass we looked at here during our walk, was kind of a telepathy as you already did post about it... Happy week for you and sending you love and hugs,Mariette

This is excellent information, Dear Mariette, and so important for everyone to know. My Grandmother, Beatrice, died of untreated diabetes and the complications of kidney disease and both of my parent's had type 2 diabetes in later life. I have been very careful of my diet...... (although I ate birthday cake recently, but should have said 'no'.) I just bought some Tahini! I have never tried it before, but wanted to make some home-made hummus, and the recipe calls for Tahini. Wishing you all the best with your health, my Dear. Hugs xo Karen

Dearest Karen,So sorry for your dear Grandmother Beatrice and the cause of her death. Yes, we are fortunate nowadays with the help of Internet to educate ourselves far better. I do hope that my kidneys will stay the way they are and that I do not need dialysis like my Mom. Tonight we had a Business After Hours meeting of the local Chamber of Commerce of which I am a member of course. But the food was all unhealthy for me, except the fresh fruit! I did take some of it; no choice... like you did with the bithday cake. At times it is hard to stick to the discipline for the sake of our health. Usually I am very good at it though. I also decided after reading a book during my vacation in Arizona that I no longer will buy anything that is NOT healthy, neither for guests coming to our home. Our pantry is nearly in pristine condition and stocked with all healthy things and I want to keep it that way; no exceptions!I know you took Beatrice Euphemie for a special reason and knowing such tidbits about Beatrice makes it even more precious. She will be smiling down from heaven for having a sweet granddaughter that extends her presence here on earth!Hugs,Mariette

Excellent post, Mariette, thank you so much for sharing. I do not have diabetes, but my father did and he died in 1984 of a heart attack. I do, however, have only one kidney since the age of 4, and I am 57 now.

Dearest Linda,Guess we all need to heed ourselves for remaining healthy. Be it due to genetic problems or else... Lifestyle and diet is very important.Sad that you lost your Father because of complications of being diabetes. Back in 1984 we knew a lot less and Internet was not yet an option for finding out more by doing research.Wishing you al the best with your one kidney. They say that you can live with one healthy kidney so may you continue to keep it healthy.Hugs and blessings to you,Mariette

I did not know that you had these health issues Mariette; but it sounds like you are doing well taking care of your diet. I hope you can continue to enjoy good health. I used to love eating tahini, but I developed an anaphalaxic reaction to it about 8 years ago and now have to carry an epi-pen around. Needless to say, I am very careful about checking to make sure nothing I eat has sesame seeds in it!

Dearest Deborah,It is a blessing to fully understand what you genetically might have and what your physician already found out. In November of 2007 we discovered that I had diabete type 2 and probably because it went unnoticed for quite a while, it did cause the kidney disease to develop into stage II. But I will try to do the utmost for not advancing either one!Oh, about Anaphalaxic reaction or Angioedema I know too. Right afer my major surgery in October of last year, when I got home, I developed an ACE inhibitors reactions: Angioedema. My eyes were swollen and shut and my lips looked awful; I could not even drink my water. Had to stop taking my Lisinopril medication and it went away. Such a scare! Life is full of surprises as we get older... But even in young people this could happen, either from food, insect bites or medications.Stay well too!Hugs,Mariette

Good Afternoon Mariette, I knew that you were a very healthy eater, but did not realise the extent of your health issues. You are wise to clear your cupboards of all things unhealthy, because although I realise from reading your blog, you have a great strength of character, if unhealthy foods are around, it is easy to be tempted.I use sesame seeds a lot in cooking, I toast them and add them to salads and vegetables and I also use a lot of tahini as it is a key ingredient for hummus.Whilst I think it is fair to say, I bake a lot of cakes, they are not just for George and myself, they are always shared around the family.... much safer that way, so that we do not eat too much unhealthy food.Before I leave you, congratulations on having people from 197 countries visiting your blog, that is a marvellous achievement.I will not say take care of yourself, because I know you do.Best Wishes as always.Daphne

Dearest Daphne,Well, I always have loved to eat fresh fruits and lots of veggies but since I have been very slim, my entire life, I never shied away from fat cheeses, heavy whipped cream, crème fraîche, mascarpone and such. But in 2007 when my physician detected I was diabetes type 2, had high cholesterol and high blood pressure, that has changed my eating pattern quite a lot. It is not easy for searching and understanding healthy ingredients and for rethinking about ingredients... But Internet is great in that too, it educates us as long as we are eager to find answers. So our cupboards stay better cleared of all things unhealthy! We both have made the transition and it helps us to age healthier I hope.Hugs to you and thanks for your comments and visits.Mariette

Dearest Stacy,Well thank you and yes, it SHOULD be a simple formula but so many people are throwing it to the wind... Love to at least explain this from time to time and even if it will touch one, or even a few people, it is worth it!Yes, Discipline with a capital 'D' does work for me and I will keep at it for the rest of my life.Hugs,Mariette

Tahini is very very popular in Greece, dear Mariette, and we all have it at home. We use it in various preparations, like humus, cakes, with cereals, etc. and we also use sesame seeds in salads and in home-made bread. I was never slim, in my life, and with age I now am overweight, so I'd better start eating healthier food. Thank you for sharing your dietary lifestyle...I will look forward to your next relative posts. You are such a healthy living person!!! Congratulations!!!Many hugs!

Dearest Marie-Anne,Tahini is indeed very healthy but still we ought to cut out all the refined sugar and refined flour... Eating more fresh fruits and vegetables instead of all the convenient foods that contain way too much sugars, salt and fat.My entire life I've never been overweight but still, it does make a difference what we eat. The bloodwork at the doctor's office does not lie to us.Hugs to you,Mariette

My lunch today was quinoa with roasted eggplant, chickpeas, garlic powder, tahini and lemon juice :) I don't agree with the omission of white rice as the Japanese eat rice for breakfast, lunch and dinner without having a problem with diabetes or obesity. It is only when they take on a "western" diet that they start to have more health problems. Many Americans eat way too much processed and fast food, drink way too many soft drinks and have a big problem with portion control. It's not the white rice that's causing them health problems, that's for sure. Best wishes, Tammy

Dearest Tammy,You in general eat very health conscious and are looking thus great!But according to some Harvard researchers and others, Japan is one of the nations most affected by the worldwide diabetes epidemic. Keep in mind that obesity is not always part of being diabetes. I have never ever been overweight... Just read below:The Pre-Diabetes Diet Everyone Needs| Barbara Borcik (quoted in above Costco article): Pull back on portions. You still can eat many of the foods you like, just have smaller amounts of them. Borcik says, adding that this is especially true for starchy foods like white rice, white potatoes, and pasta.

Eating white rice daily ups diabetes risk, study shows| Study author Dr. Qi Sun, a diabetes researcher at Harvard School of Public Health, told WebMD that eating white rice could cause a sudden spike in blood sugar. White rice also doesn't contain as many nutrients as brown rice, which is packed in fiber, magnesium and vitamins. The researchers said not getting enough of these nutrients could contribute to type 2 diabetes risk.

Hi Mariette, I knew you would come up with all sorts of interesting information to read. Medical research is all over the place when it comes to food and I'm still not convinced about the white rice Many nations eat it regularly and when they stay true to their natural, native diet, they tend to be healthier than those who eat a more western diet. And by western I mean junk food, fast food, processed food and larger portions than necessary. The Japanese are still some of the longest living people in the world. We have Japanese friends who told us that they never drank milk until it was introduced by the US about 50 years ago. It was after that when people started to eat differently and they then started to experience more health problems. Idleness is also a big issue. People who still garden and tend to their homes and walk places rather than driving and sitting in offices all day will be healthier, too. I am truly tired of going to school every day to sit in an office with no windows, no natural light, to sit for hours on end in a chair doing computer work. This is my last year at school. I can't wait to be able to be free to get out every day and walk to my heart's content. :) Have a super Saturday. Tammy